A Zócalo/The California Wellness Foundation Event
Moderated by Rebecca Plevin, Health Reporter, KPCC, Southern California Public Radio
In Fresno County, approximately 200,000 people did not have health insurance before Obamacare. But the county is struggling to enroll people in the new exchanges. And while some low-income residents are signing up to participate in the Medi-Cal expansion that comes with the new law, it’s unclear whether many Fresno doctors will accept new Medi-Cal patients. Fresno County, which has a history of resisting state and federal social programs, may not build the infrastructure needed to handle a greater volume of enrollments. Why has Fresno been so challenging for Obamacare, and what can communities and local governments do to make it easier for people to receive these new benefits? Will newly insured people who have never had health insurance be able to get the care they need? Fresno County department of social services deputy director Deborah Martinez, Centro La Familia executive director Margarita Rocha, and Clinica Sierra Vista deputy chief of programs Kevin Hamilton visit Zócalo to discuss whether Fresno will be able to complete this transition to Obamacare, or whether the region could be left behind by this historic change in healthcare.
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The Takeaway
Should We Bet on Obamacare in Fresno?
A Place With the Most to Gain From the New Healthcare Law Faces Serious Challenges to Implementation
Fresno County stands to gain a lot from Obamacare: It has high rates of poverty, a large population of uninsured residents, and a problem with doctor shortages. But these are …